azen-faced
Orlofs and her, which all the cosmetics of the world will never quite
cover. And yet, on the spot, in Petersburg at the moment--! Read this
Clipping from Smelfungus, on a collateral topic:--

"In BUSCHING'S MAGAZINE are some Love-letters from the old Marshal
Munnich to Catharine just after this event, which are psychologically
curious. Love-letters, for they partake of that character; though the
man is 82, and has had such breakages and vicissitudes in this Earth.
Alive yet, it would seem; and full of ambitions. Unspeakably beautiful
is this young Woman to him; radiant as ox-eyed Juno, as Diana of the
silver bow,--such a power in her to gratify the avarices, ambitions,
cupidities of an insatiable old fellow: O divine young Empress, Aurora
of bright Summer epochs, rosy-fingered daughter of the Sun,--grant me
the governing of This, the administering of That: and see what a thing
I will make of it (I, an inventive old gentleman), for your Majesty's
honor and glory, and my own advantage! [Busching, _Magazin fur die neue
Historie und Geographie_ (Halle, Year 1782), xvi. 413-477 (22 LETTERS,
and only thrice or so a word of RESPONSE from "MA DIVINITE:"
dates, "Narva, 4th August, 1762"... "Petersburg, 3d October,
1762").]--Innumerable persons of less note than Munnich have
their Biographies, and are known to the reading public and in all
barbers'-shops, if that were an advantage to them. Very considerable,
this Munnich, as a soldier, for one thing. And surely had very strange
adventures; an original German character withal:--about the stature of
Belleisle, for example; and not quite unlike Belleisle in some of his
ways? Came originally from the swamps of Oldenburg, or Lower Weser
Country,--son of a DEICHGRAFE (Ditch-Superintendent) there. REQUIESCANT
in oblivious silence, Belleisle and he; it is better than being lied of,
and maundered of, and blotched and blundered of.

"Biographies were once rhythmic, earnest as death or as life, earnest as
transcendent human Insight risen to the Singing pitch; some Homer, nay
some Psalmist or Evangelist, spokesman of reverent Populations, was the
Biographer. Rhythmic, WITH exactitude, investigation to the very marrow;
this, or else oblivion, Biography should now, and at all times, be; but
is not,--by any manner of means. With what results is visible enough,
if you will look! Human Stupor, fallen into the dishonest, lazy and
UNflogged condition, is truly an awful thing."

Cathar